Disease Transmission and Infection Control

Acquired Immunity

immunity that is developed during a person’s lifetime.

Artificially acquired immunity

immunity that is obtained from a vaccination.

Naturally acquired immunity

a person exposed to an infectious agent, then develops the disease and then develops the immunity.

Infection prevention

ultimate goal of all infection control procedures and policies.

Standard Precautions

standard of care designed to protect healthcare providers from pathogens that can be spread by blood or any other body fluid via excretion or secretion; expands on the concept of universal precautions.

Latent Infection

a persistent infection in which the symptoms “come and go.”

Infectious waste

waste that is capable of transmitting an infectious disease.

Indirect contact

touching or contact with a contaminated surface or instrument.

Hazardous waste

waste that presents a danger to humans or to the environment.

Occupational Exposure

any reasonably anticipated skin, eye or mucous membrane contact, or percutaneous injury with blood or any other potentially infectious materials, that occurs during work hours.

Acute infection

infection of short duration that is often severe.

Chronic infection

an infection on long duration.

Direct contact

touching or contact with a patient’s blood or saliva.

percutaneous

exposure enters through skin, such as through needle sticks, cuts, and human bites.

Contaminated waste

are contaminated items that may contain the body fluids of patients, such as gloves and patient napkins.

Communicable disease

a condition that is caused by an infection spread by person to person or through contact with body fluids.

Inherited immunity

immunity that is present at birth

Anaphylaxis

The most severe form of immediate allergic reaction

Droplet infection

exposure enters the mucosal surfaces of the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Sharps

any disposable or reusable instruments and devices that can puncture, cut, or lacerate the skin

Permucosal

exposure contacts mucous membranes, such as the eye or the mouth.